ISLAMABAD; Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) suffered another internal setback on Monday when its Secretary General, senior lawyer Salman Akram Raja, announced that he was stepping down from the party’s top organizational position.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Raja said that a recent incident had compelled him to take a “clear decision.” He explained that his political role within PTI would come to an end, but he would continue to provide legal services to the party on a voluntary basis.
“My life is an open book. None of my actions are in conflict with any principle. Tomorrow, I will request Khan Sahib to relieve me from my position. However, my legal services will remain available without any compensation,” Raja wrote.
The announcement comes amid growing internal divisions within PTI. Party insiders revealed that Raja had earlier clashed with Aleema Khan, sister of jailed PTI founder Imran Khan. Their confrontation reportedly took place during a political committee meeting, where heated words were exchanged. Following that incident, Raja briefly resigned but returned to his post after reconciliation efforts.
This time, however, sources suggest the rift widened over PTI’s strategy for upcoming by-elections. The political committee reportedly voted 13 to 9 in favor of participation. Raja, as Secretary General, conveyed this outcome to Aleema Khan, which further strained relations between the two and eventually led to his resignation.
In his resignation statement, Raja underscored that he was “neither a traditional politician nor a feudal lord” but a professional who had withstood both external and internal pressures alongside his family. He stressed that principles, rather than positions, guided his decisions.
Raja’s decision to step down highlights ongoing internal discord within PTI at a time when the party is grappling with mounting political and legal challenges. Its founder, Imran Khan, remains incarcerated, leaving PTI leadership fragmented and under pressure.
